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12 Movies And TV Shows To Watch On Netflix This December

Keeley
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12 Movies And TV Shows To Watch On Netflix This December

The weather is getting colder, the nights are getting longer (not a fan of it getting dark at 3pm) and the temptation to curl up on the couch and watch a good TV show or movie is very real. Thankfully, it looks like Netflix have saved the best releases for the last month of the year. 

The streaming service has revealed what’s available to stream in December (and there’s plenty of really good options on the way). So grab the popcorn and settle in, here are 12 movies and TV shows to add to your Netflix queue this December. 

Because ’tis the season to binge-watch TV and movies, right? 

TV Shows

Let’s kick off with some series worth your while. You know? The things that leave you saying “just one more episode”.

The Holiday Movies That Made Us 

When does it arrive? December 1. 

Unwrap the real stories behind these iconic Christmas blockbusters, thanks to insider interviews and behind-the-scenes peeks.

Detention  

When does it arrive? December 5.

A tormented student uncovers unsettling secrets at her remote high school as betrayal and a paranormal encounter upend her life.

Alice in Borderland 

When does it arrive? December 10.

A video-game-obsessed young man finds himself in a strange version of Tokyo where he and other visitors must compete in deadly games to survive.

Tiny Pretty Things  

When does it arrive? December 14. 

When an attack brings down the star student at an elite ballet school, her replacement enters a world of lies, betrayal — and cutthroat competition.

Home for Christmas: Season 2  

When does it arrive? December 18.

When love rings your doorbell, are you ready?   Follow Johanne through another December as she continues her pursuit for eternal, warm and real love. When her family and the world around her fall apart, how can she still believe in real and bottomless love? Does it even exist and will she find the one true love for Christmas this year?

Bridgerton  

When does it arrive? December 25.

Bridgerton follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dyvenor), the eldest daughter of the powerful Bridgerton family as she makes her debut onto Regency London’s competitive marriage market. Hoping to follow in her parent’s footsteps and find a match sparked by true love, Daphne’s prospects initially seem to be unrivalled. But as her older brother begins to rule out her potential suitors, the high society scandal sheet written by the mysterious Lady Whistledown casts aspersions on Daphne. 

Enter the highly desirable and rebellious Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), committed bachelor and the catch of the season for the debutantes’ mamas. Despite proclaiming that they want nothing the other has to offer, their attraction is undeniable and sparks fly as they find themselves engaged in an increasing battle of wits while navigating society’s expectations for their future. Bridgerton is a romantic, scandalous, and quick-witted series that celebrates the timelessness of enduring friendships, families finding their way, and the search for a love that conquers all. 

Equinox

When does it arrive? December 30.

In 1999, young Astrid saw a bus full of students disappear. In 2019, Astrid tries to solve this mystery, only to discover she ends up changing the past.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Part 4  

When does it arrive? December 31.

Over the course of Part 4’s eight episodes, The Eldritch Terrors will descend upon Greendale. The coven must fight each terrifying threat one-by-one (The Weird, The Returned, The Darkness to name a few), all leading up to…The Void, which is the End of All Things. 

As the witches wage war, with the help of The Fright Club, Nick begins to slowly earn his way back into Sabrina’s heart, but will it be too late?

Netflix Original Films

If you’re very self-aware and know you can’t be trusted to watch just one episode of anything, you might be safer committing to just one movie instead. Netflix has lined up an impressive list of new Netflix Originals to get you through the festive period.

MANK  

When does it arrive? December 4.

1930s Hollywood is re-evaluated through the eyes of scathing wit and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish “Citizen Kane.”

The Prom 

When does it arrive? December 11.

Dee Dee Allen (three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman (Tony Award winner James Corden) are New York City stage stars with a crisis on their hands: their expensive new Broadway show is a major flop that has suddenly flatlined their careers. Meanwhile, in small-town Indiana, high school student Emma Nolan (newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman) is experiencing a very different kind of heartbreak: despite the support of the high school principal (Keegan-Michael Key), the head of the PTA (Kerry Washington) has banned her from attending the prom with her girlfriend, Alyssa (Ariana DeBose). 

When Dee Dee and Barry decide that Emma’s predicament is the perfect cause to help resurrect their public images, they hit the road with Angie (Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman) and Trent (Andrew Rannells), another pair of cynical actors looking for a professional lift. But when their self-absorbed celebrity activism unexpectedly backfires, the foursome find their own lives upended as they rally to give Emma a night where she can truly celebrate who she is.   

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom  

When does it arrive? December 18. 

Tensions and temperatures rise over the course of an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await trailblazing performer, the legendary “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey (Academy Award® winner Viola Davis). Late to the session, the fearless, fiery Ma engages in a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over control of her music. 

As the band waits in the studio’s claustrophobic rehearsal room, ambitious trumpeter Levee (Chadwick Boseman) — who has an eye for Ma’s girlfriend and is determined to stake his own claim on the music industry — spurs his fellow musicians into an eruption of stories revealing truths that will forever change the course of their lives.   

The Midnight Sky 

When does it arrive? December 23.

This post-apocalyptic tale follows Augustine (George Clooney), a lonely scientist in the Arctic, as he races to stop Sully (Felicity Jones) and her fellow astronauts from returning home to a mysterious global catastrophe.

December on netflix

Not feeling any of them? Try out some of these secret Netflix codes to get you through the Christmas.

Secret Netflix Codes: Find More Christmas Movies Than Ever

Keeley
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0
Secret Netflix Codes: Find More Christmas Movies Than Ever

Now that December is here, Christmas will arrive in the blink of an eye. And while things may be looking a bit different than normal this year — okay, they’re going to look very different — but there is one tradition that we know we’re definitely going to be taking part in: streaming just about every festive thing we can find on Netflix. 

But if you’ve found yourself endlessly scrolling through the streaming service to try and find their snow-filled shows and films, there’s some good news: there are secret codes you can use to find the Christmas categories. 

Netflix secret codes

How To Use Secret Netflix Codes

Making use of these secret codes couldn’t be easier!

  • Login to your Netflix account on your computer or through the browser on your phone
  • For example, using http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/. 
  • Basically, just don’t just the app
  • Then you need to add the number code below to the end of that URL to access each category.

Secret Netflix Christmas Codes

  • Christmas Children & Family Films – 1474017
  • Romantic Christmas Films – 1394527
  • Family-friendly Christmas Films – 1394522.
  • Christmas Children & Family Films for ages 11 to 12 – 1477206
  • Feel-good Christmas Children & Family Films – 1475066
  • Christmas Children & Family Films for ages 5 to 7 – 1477201
  • Goofy Christmas Children & Family Films – 1475071
  • Christmas Children & Family Films from the 1990s – 1476024
  • British Christmas Children & Family Films –1527064
  • Christmas Children & Family Films for ages 8 to 10 – 1477204
  • European Christmas Children & Family Films – 1527063
  • Canadian Christmas Children & Family Films – 1721544

You can also put the code numbers into the search bar, and Netflix will bring up similar titles for you to watch. 

While the availability of the titles in each category may change depending on what territory you’re accessing Netflix from, there’s bound to be something that will suit everyone’s tastes. 

Three Launches 3 Store Connect: A Virtual Personal Shopping Service

Marty
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0
Three Launches 3 Store Connect: A Virtual Personal Shopping Service

I don’t know how many ways articles like this can be opened in 2020. We’ve heard them all a million times. “It’s been a challenging year” and all that jazz. While pubs are no doubt some of the hardest businesses hit, retailers have had to adapt and adopt quicker than ever. Nothing had driven businesses towards improving online experiences faster than COVID-19 and Three has, today, launched a “first of its kind” online service in Ireland with 3 Store Connect. Here’s a quick lay of the land in Ireland right now and an intro to 3 Store Connect.

The Online Shopping Scene In Ireland

Online shopping has always been the forgotten child of Irish businesses. Never has this stood out more than in 2020. Data from the online-only bank Revolut shows that Black Friday 2020 saw Irish businesses enjoy a 135% increase in online sales. This should be a time for celebration but looking back will, unfortunately, be an act of spotting missed opportunities. The data from Revolut also tells us that Irish retailers took just a 39% chunk of the pie with the remainder going to international retailers. An average spend of €63.18 with Irish businesses, eclipsed by international average spends of €90.37.

three virtual shopper service

In their defence, Irish retailers both big and small, are reacting. The problem is that they are not just overcoming the impacts of 2020 but also the years of neglecting online shops in general. That’s why services like 3 Store Connect from Three are going to become more common place, with people seeking out ways of shopping without visiting traditional retail spaces.

What Is 3 Store Connect?

3 Store Connect is an online service where, from the comfort of your own home, you can visit the Three website and speak with experts face-to-face through a video call. Buying a phone can be tricky, I know because selling them used to be my job. There are a seemingly infinite number of question combinations people can have about phone purchases so online experiences can fall short of delivering a simple journey. Now, with 3 Store Connect, you can have a really natural conversation with an expert just like you would by visiting a store. It’s the same shopping experience of visiting a store without the hassle of worrying about festive queues.

it’s extremely important to us that we continue to provide the best possible support to our customers

Ronan Gibney, Head of Sales at Three Ireland

Ronan Gibney, Head of Sales at Three Ireland said “it’s extremely important to us that we continue to provide the best possible support to our customers. We know that connectivity is vital for our customers now more than ever, and will be even more important during the Christmas period. Through 3 Store Connect, we are delighted to offer our customers the same experience as though they were in-store with one of our retail experts”.

How To Use 3 Store Connect

To make use of this service, visit the 3 Store Connect webpage and look out for the chat button on the bottom right of the page. You’ll need to answer two quick questions and insert your mobile number. Then you just have to wait for a call back from a member of staff.

To celebrate the launch of 3Store Connect, online shoppers can avail of offers of 10% off Three’s accessories range shopping via 3Store Connect on the 8th December, traditionally Ireland’s busiest shopping day.

Kindle Paperwhite Review: Is It Worth Buying?

Keeley
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0
Kindle Paperwhite Review: Is It Worth Buying?

For years, I was adamant that I would never get an e-reader, mostly because of the fact that I love having the physical book way too much. I just didn’t think that it would be the same, and I couldn’t see myself ever actually using it or at least not enough to actually make buying one worth it. But it turns out that I was really, really wrong. I bought my e-reader a little more than a year ago.

I was getting ready to go on a long trip and, when I realised how painful it would be to bring a dozen books in my carry-on versus an e-reader, I realised that it was time to at least consider it. After a lot of research, I ended up picking the Kindle Paperwhite and it’s totally changed my mind about e-readers.

What Is The Kindle Paperwhite?

The Kindle Paperwhite is the midrange e-reader from Amazon — right between the Kindle and the Kindle Oasis. Amazon claim that the device is their lightest and thinnest e-reader yet, making it the perfect pick if you’re looking for a device to bring with you whether you’re commuting or headed on vacation.

The Kindle Paperwhite

The 2018 version I bought also has twice the storage of the previous version, which is always a good thing — because who could say no to more books?

What’s It Like To Use?

While it may be small in size, the Kindle Paperwhite is jam-packed with features that readers will love. And, thankfully, the lightweight e-reader is really easy to use — which is particularly handy if, like me, you’ve never had one before.

Reading Experience

The software lets you tailor your reading experience, deciding on everything from the font size to the layout of the page. And, if you go to the Accessibility Settings, you can also invert the text, image and page colours on all of the screens. It’s also backlit, which is a nice upgrade if you’ve got an older Kindle.

Swapping it to be white text on a darker background will make it a lot easier to read in the dark without eye strain giving you the perfect solution if you’ve found yourself reading late into the night and don’t want to hurt your eyes.

IPX8 Rated

The Kindle Paperwhite is also waterproof, which means that you can bring it with you to the beach or read in the bath without worrying about whether it’ll get wet. The device can survive in fresh water for up to 60 minutes at depths of up to two metres. While this was one of the selling points for me, I’ll admit that I haven’t tested out this particular feature yet — mostly because I’m nervous I’d still somehow manage to break it.

Audible Ready

One of the surprise features I have enjoyed testing out, though, is the ability to listen to audiobooks through your Kindle. With the Paperwhite, you can upload all of your Audible titles and listen to them on-the-go using Bluetooth headphones or Bluetooth speakers. Rather ingeniously, if you own both the audiobook and the eBook version of the of the same book, you can alternate between the two — all without losing your place. That’s pretty mind-blowing so if you’re buying a Kindle, it’s a good time to use up your Audible trial.

The Paperwhite Battery Life

This was one of the biggest points of interest for me, as I wanted something that I knew would have a really, really long battery life. In the very least I didn’t want to have to charge every single day. The Kindle Paperwhite battery life promises to last up to six weeks, depending on how much you read per day. Other factors that impact the battery life are whether you’ve got the wireless on or off, and what you’ve got the light setting at. But while I’ve never gotten it to last the full six weeks, I’ve found I’m charging it every two to three weeks — sometimes, a little more often depending on my commute.

When the battery life does run out, though, it doesn’t take long for it to full charge. Amazon promises that the Kindle Paperwhite will be at full power in around three hours. If you’re charging it with a USB cable from a computer I’ve found to be pretty spot on.

Kindle Paperwhite: The Verdict

While my love for reading physical books hasn’t changed, I will say that the Kindle Paperwhite has been one of the best pieces of technology I’ve bought over the last few years. I’ve loved having my books with me wherever I am, whether I’m stuck in a long queue or sitting on the bus for my commute. And, since it’s so small and lightweight, it’s super comfortable to read whenever or wherever.

Since I’ve had the device, I’ve also found myself reading a lot more. With the recommendations at the bottom of the home screen, I have discovered some incredible reads that I might not have otherwise heard about. And since it’s so easy and comfortable to use, the Kindle’s also helped me become a faster reader.

You can pick up the Kindle Paperwhite for about €130 or €150 for the ad-free model.

Revolut Web Launches In Ireland

Marty
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0
Revolut Web Launches In Ireland

I’ve been a massive fan of Revolut for many years. The only-only bank makes splitting bills with friends and family a non-event. Recently, Revolut teamed up with Irish charities for some awesome new fund-raising features. Along with a pretty neat Rewards section in their app too, Revolut never ceases innovating. A welcome change in the banking space given traditional banks like Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB just released mobile payments recently, with Permanent TSB still yet to adopt Google Pay.

However, one area of Revolut was lacking and that was their singular focus on their app. Today, the online-only bank launched a web app so you can bank on your laptop.

What Can You Do With Revolut Web?

Revolut Web offers you a complete overview of your Revolut account. Here you can top up your account and contact customer care. This is handy if you’ve lost your phone or wallet out and about.

Customers can now safely access their accounts from a browser on desktop or laptop, in addition to the smartphone app.

All of this is now possible as you can securely sign in to the Revolut Web App using secure Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), and then have a complete overview of your Revolut account, transaction history and cards

Nik Storonsky, CEO and Founder at Revolut said that “account access through a browser is highly requested by our customers, so we’re delighted to have built a safe and convenient web app that everyone can use when they need it. Our customers can now access their money anywhere and at any time, even if they don’t have their phone or card, or if they simply prefer checking their account from a computer. It’s great to have the extra convenience and flexibility of an online option.”

How to Access Revolut Web

Accessing Revolut Web is simple. You just need to:

Think it’s a handy new feature? Are there other feature like Stock Market access you’d like to see? Let us know on Twitter! 

Remember, this is the only link you should use for Revolut Web. I’m going to leave it in the open here so you can see it properly.

Revolut Web: https://app.revolut.com/start

Note: We’ve noticed some issues when using the app in Safari and have asked Revolut for an update.

Update: The Revolut techies have fixed the issues in Safari.

Spider-Man Remastered Review: Is It Worth Buying?

Alex
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Spider-Man Remastered Review: Is It Worth Buying?

It’s no secret that Sony and Marvel have a complicated relationship as far as Spider-Man (as well as the Spider-Verse at large) is concerned. But it’s also well known that in recent years their rocky partnership has generated some of the best Spider-Man media we’ve ever seen. Insomniac’s Spider-Man blew us away in 2018 when it made its way to PS4. It truly made us feel like Spider-Man in a way we hadn’t before. It showcased the best of what Sony’s last console had to offer in the graphics department. With it being such an overnight success it’s no surprise that the PS5 would launch alongside a continuation of the web-slinger’s story with Spider-Man: Miles Morales. This new game also gives you the option to include an updated version of the now two-year-old original (with all the episodic “City That Never Sleeps” DLC included). This will set you back an extra €20 and while this seems like a bargain for anyone who missed out on saving New York the first time around, the question remains; is it worth it for those of us who have played the original? Well, that’s what I’m here to find out!

Can I Get A Free Spider-Man Upgrade On PS5?

So, Spider-Man: Remastered is an enhanced version of Marvel’s Spider-Man. It’s included when you buySpider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition on PS5. However, you can’t get it for free if you’ve bought Spider-Man for PS4. Sorry! If you’ve bought the standard edition of Miles Morales, you’ll also need to fork out some cash for the paid-download. One bit of good news is that if you bought Miles Morales on PS4 you can get a free upgrade to PS5. Make sense? Up to speed? Cool.

Now, head’s up because here are some spoilers if you’ve never heard of Doctor Octopus

Spidey Disclosure

Before I get into the meat of this comparison, I should disclose that I am a massive Spider-Fan and have been my whole life. The core aspects of the character resonate with me on an emotional level, I think Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is the best screen adaptation we’ve seen to date and I will still defend Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 to the hilt! With that said I still believe that everyone, fan or not, should play this game, this exact version of this game in fact. Everything about it has been tweaked, refined and in some cases dialled to 11 to create what I can only assume the developers had intended the first time around.

With Great Power, Comes Great Graphical Quality

There’s no denying the fact that this game looks bloody gorgeous

Differences Between Spider-Man and Spider-Man Remastered

The most obvious difference between the old and the new version of the games is how they look next to one another. The web is full of side-by-side comparisons that let you see first-hand just how much better this game can look.

Graphics: 30fps or 60fps?

The PS5’s ray-tracing capabilities (a fancy phrase for tracking the path of light in real-time) really bring the glass skyscrapers of New York to life with reflections of Spidey, as well as the cars and people in the street, being crisp and natural (though the issue around puddle-gate has been left unresolved). All this and the game runs at a consistent 30fps. But what if you want a higher framerate? Insomniac have thought of that and, like most PS5 launch titles, give you the option of a “Performance Mode” which lowers the graphical pzazz just a little to bring you a buttery smooth 60fps experience. I have to say it’s my own preferred way to play.

Gameplay: An Absolute Game-Changer

The gameplay experience has been given a makeover as well. So what exactly does the PS5 offer?

PS5: Adaptive Triggers

One of the highlights of the 2018 game was the way web-swinging through downtown Manhattan was effortless, engaging and a fun experience all around. This time things are a little different, a little more difficult. Now I don’t mean that the experience has been made worse, quite the opposite. Spider-Man: Remastered Edition makes ingenious use of the PS5’s adaptive triggers for both web-swinging and aiming. If Spider-Man is taking his time with how he gets from point-A to point-B, then you’re able to pull R2 with minimal effort. You press the button; Spidey shoots a web as you continue to swing, and your controller gives you a nice sound effect. Life is good.

However, if you’re in a rush to catch the Demon Gang in their helicopter or to stop a stolen car then you really have to work to get there. The triggers will adapt to the speed and position of the web-head and offer much more resistance to give you the feeling of the centripetal force being put through the web. The faster you’re moving, the harder the button is to press. It’s a small change but I cannot overstate how effective it is. Likewise when aiming to shoot your webs or gadgets, the longer you hold down L2 the harder it is to keep it that way, really giving the impression that Spidey is struggling to maintain his focus for an extended period of time. Small touches that completely overhaul the feeling of the game.

PS5: Faster Hardware

Similarly, this new version of the game takes full advantage of the PS5’s brand new internal hardware. Load times are practically non-existent, being more than a cursory “cut to black” that exists for only a second, more as a courtesy to the player so scene transitions aren’t too jarring. All told the time it takes to start the game from the PS5 menu and get to swingin’ is only 12 seconds!

Gone are the dynamic shots of Peter Parker with the hints and tips in the corner, relics of a time now passed. Peter Parker’s literal facelift is a great new addition too, with Ben Jordan now providing the face for Marvel’s iconic character, replacing the face of Yuri Lowenthal. This, along with the other characters really highlight the massive leap forward that facial animations have taken for this new generation. Another small change that makes a huge difference to the overall package.

Just two button presses and you’re straight into your next mission.

PS5: Activities

One of the nicest touches is the integration of the PS5’s Activities feature. This feature will suggest a mission or an objective for you to do from the PS menu instead of from the game itself or via finding it organically on the map. I found this to be a major help in times when Spider-Man suffered from “Open-worlditis”, a common problem in expansive sandboxes with a variety of mission types but not a lot to do in between them or on your way to them. With the Activities button, I was able to select a Demon Warehouse (a horde-mode where you face off against waves of enemies) and immediately start the mission, instead of making my way over there, clearing out the cursory gatekeeping baddies and starting the mission proper. Just one 5 second menu selection and I was straight into the action. I couldn’t help thinking to myself, with a cheesy grin on my face, “This is an absolute game-changer”.

Back to Square One

I think the only drawback to this new version of the 2018 smash hit is that your Trophies from the original may not carry over (although Insomniac has released a patch to fix this). This means that if you still want that Platinum you might have to go through the game with a fine-toothed comb all over again. But, honestly, that’s more of an excuse to relive that wonderful experience all over again!

Is Spider-Man Remastered Worth Buying?

Fans of the Avengers movies will know that Marvel decided to kick off their “Phase 3” with the introduction of Spider-Man to their universe. But not before Tony Stark gave him a “[needed] upgrade. Systemic; top to bottom. A hundred-point restoration”. That’s what this game feels like to me.

Every tiny aspect of the original has been slightly improved to provide a single massive boost and I feel it’s only fitting that Sony follow Marvel’s example and kick off their new generation with 2 Spidey games released side by side. As I said at the top of this review if you haven’t played the original game then spending the extra €20 is a no-brainer. This is not a game to be missed on any generation of console. But is it worth it even if you have played the original? The answer is still an unequivocal yes! All the changes give a whole new experience that you would do well to dive right in to as soon as you can.

Sony Confirms More PlayStation 5 Consoles Coming To Ireland In 2020

Marty
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0
Sony Confirms More PlayStation 5 Consoles Coming To Ireland In 2020

The launch of Sony PlayStation has been…. let’s say, interesting. On launch day, websites around Ireland collapsed under the pressure of shoppers trying to secure their new PS5. With many still concerned about whether or not they would be able to buy a PS5 before the end of the year, especially for Christmas, some hope has been given.

The official Twitter page of PlayStation for Ireland thanked gamers for making the PS5 launch the biggest yet and promised that more consoles would be available before the end of the year.

Why Are There No PlayStation 5 Consoles?

It’s far from certain that you’ll be able to easily pick up a PS5 before Christmas and I’ve reached out to Sony for clarification on what this all means. Prior to the launch, Sony confirmed that COVID-19 would not impact their supply chain despite reports that the console’s production was delayed because of a chip manufacturing issue, a claim since specifically refuted by Sony.

The PlayStation 5 controller

Realistically, the only alternative is that Sony has deliberately short-stocked the market to generate that “fear of missing out” or FOMO vibe around their new console. The logic behind this is to make the PS5 the “must have” gift of 2020, completely choking Microsoft’s Xbox of oxygen.

I doubt that Sony would have done that to this degree, but certainly a % of the shortage would have been considered. The exceptional circumstances of COVID-19 has of course led to increased demand too, but the gap between supply and demand is far too great, in my opinion, to have been planned to this scale. It’s bordering on harming the brand.

I’ll update this article once I hear back from Sony on PlayStation stock availability in Ireland. Hit the bell in the bottom right corner to receive a notification when that happens. In the meantime, you can check out the PS5 specs and pricing and our very own PS5 review by Alex.

You Can Now Automatically Donate To Irish Charities With Revolut

Marty
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You Can Now Automatically Donate To Irish Charities With Revolut

There are things we’re all saying a lot. One of these is “2020 has been a tough year”. It’s been varying degrees of toughness, even within families. Some experience isolation while others suffer loss. All year round and every year, even before COVID-19, charities have been helping people around Ireland dealing with loss and isolation, among other things. While individuals have had it tough this year, so too have charities. That’s why it’s fantastic to see one of Ireland’ fastest-growing “banks”, Revolut, provide a new way for charities, such as the Irish Cancer Society, to raise funds.

Donating To Charities Through Revolut

I first came the idea of direct donations to charities at Dublin Tech Summit a few year back when I met with Change Donations. The idea was simple but brilliant. You’d connect their platform to your bank account, a new concept that’s going to become more normal with PSD2, and have the platform donate the spare change from your in-store or online shopping to a charity. The concept is the very same with Revolut except it’s all baked into the one app and platform. This would be like Bank of Ireland offering the service, even though they’ve just launched mobile payments so don’t hold your breath.

Within the Revolut app, you can either set up a recurring payment to a charity or round up your loose change. This means if you spend €2.50 on a coffee, you’ll donate 50 cents to your selected charity. Six major Irish Charities have partnered with Revolut with 100% of funds donated via Revolut going straight to the charities involved. Edel Hackett from Safe Ireland highlights this particular benefit as “there is no middleman which is fantastic”.

Charity Fund Crisis

To put the importance of this into perspective, Irish charities expect donations to be down by about 40% this year. Revolut has more than a million customers in Ireland so the power of the platform for charities is huge. Without really promoting the feature, Irish Revolut customers have already donated more than €500,000 to charities using the “Donations” feature.

Rosemary Simmons, Irish Cancer Society’s National Fundraising Lead, said “We are delighted to be partnering with Revolut, to raise much-needed funds to support cancer patients and their families across Ireland. 2020 has been an extremely challenging year for everyone affected by cancer, with coronavirus bringing further anxieties and forcing many to stay apart from family and friends at a time when they badly need emotional support. The vital services provided by the Irish Cancer Society are needed now, more than ever. With thanks to the generosity of our wonderful donors, we can continue to provide crucial services like Night Nursing, Daffodil Centres and our freephone Support Line, to ensure nobody in Ireland has to face cancer alone”.

Rachel Murphy, Fundraising Director at Pieta said “We are delighted to partner with Revolut and benefit from this fund-raising initiative. For all of us, this has been a year like no other and knowing we have the support of Revolut is a huge boost to the Pieta organisation. In practical terms, the funds generated will support Pieta in delivering lifesaving services and raising the awareness of suicide prevention”.

Revolut Donations: Frequently Asked Questions

Which Irish charities can I donate to with Revolut?

Focus Ireland, the Irish Cancer Society, ISPCC Childline, the Jack & Jill Foundation, Pieta, and Safe Ireland have all joined Revolut’s “Donations” feature. Two other Irish charities – Special Olympics Ireland and the Irish Red Cross

How much of my Revolut donation goes to the charity?

100% of your donation goes to the charity.

How do I donate to charities through Revolut?

In the app, visit the “Marketplace” section (the farthest right icon on the bottom). Here you’ll see the “Donations” section which is a heart icon. Here, you can make either a once off donation, donate spare change (with a multiplier if you want) or make a recurring donation.

Black Friday 2020: The Ultimate Guide To Shopping On Amazon.co.uk In Ireland

Marty
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0
Black Friday 2020: The Ultimate Guide To Shopping On Amazon.co.uk In Ireland

Update: Due to Brexit, from January 1st additional fees for customers and returns on Amazon UK purchases come into place. Also, virtual UK delivery addresses will be impacted by Brexit. Learn more about Brexit and shopping in the UK.

Just a few years ago, ordering from Amazon.co.uk to Ireland was a bit of a pain. Today, there’s still not official Amazon Ireland store online. However, that doesn’t stand in the way of Irish shoppers spending their money on Amazon.co.uk instead. In a survey, we carried out, 34% of respondents said they had made a purchase with the online retailer in the past twelve months. The online shopping giant has renewed focus on Ireland ahead of Brexit and recently opened a permanent Irish delivery centre which now allows you to live to track your packages en-route to your home.

With this in mind and with Black Friday 2020 around the corner I wanted to pull together the ultimate Amazon.co.uk shopping guide for Irish shoppers. This guide will give you some pointers on how to qualify for free delivery, make use of an Amazon Prime free trial, what might happen with Brexit and get items shipped to Ireland which Amazon may say are unavailable for delivery to Ireland.

Amazon Prime

Amazon is a very smart business set up which knows how to squeeze everything from potential customers. Amazon Prime is one of these clever tricks. I say trick, but Amazon Prime really is just a premium and optional service for customers to enjoy. Amazon Prime unlocks a range of exclusive special offers on eligible items and speedier delivery, including unlimited one day delivery on certain items.

Amazon Prime costs just under €90 for the year or €9 per month, but if you’ve never used the service before, there is a free trial.

The Beauty Of An Amazon Prime Trial

I think most of Ireland has probably already used a free Amazon Prime Trial already. So powerful is the free trial to get people shopping, Amazon will, from time to time, offer people who’ve already had their free trial a second bite of the cherry.

The free trial lets you live like a premium Amazon customer for thirty days. That means you get:

  • Free one day delivery on selected items
  • Access to Prime Video, Amazon’s answer to Netflix which has great TV shows like The Boys
  • Free reads on eligible books from the Kindle book store
  • Access to over two million songs on Prime Music, Amazon’s answer to Spotify

Amazon knows that their trial could see you replace a few services and save quite a bit of money, so I always tell people it’s worth giving it a try for 30 days anyway.

With your trial setup, you’re ready to start shopping on Amazon.co.uk; even if you’re in Ireland.

Shopping On Amazon.co.uk While In Ireland

Now that you’re an Amazon Prime member, there are a few more things you need to know before you start shopping.

Amazon Delivery To Ireland

For the vast majority of products, getting Amazon to Ireland delivery isn’t a problem. Getting’s Amazon’s free delivery might prove tricky on some products while other products may not ship to the Republic of Ireland at all. First thing’s first. How to qualify for free delivery to Ireland.

How To Qualify For Free Amazon Delivery To Ireland

While a lot of Amazon’s marketplace sellers will ship to Ireland and ship to Ireland for free, you’ll come across quite a few who’ll either refuse to include shipping to Ireland or free shipping as a delivery option. Often this is because free shipping is an option reserved for UK addresses. That’s where you need to make us of a virtual UK address.

What Is A Virtual UK Address?

Virtual UK addresses are services provided by quite a few delivery companies in Ireland. The two best-known providers are Nightline’s Parcel Motel and An Post’s AddressPal. These services will give you a UK address to use for your shipping and then reroute your package to a collection point.

Parcel Motel by Nightline

My preferred provider of a virtual UK address is Parcel Motel. Parcel Motel has 175 lockers around the country, usually located on a petrol station forecourt. Once you get a notification that Amazon has your items dispatched, they aren’t actually on the way to you. Instead, they are en route to a Nightline depot in Northern Ireland.

Because Northern Ireland is within the UK, your order qualifies for free UK delivery. Nightline then drives your order into the Republic of Ireland and drop it into a locker of your choice.

All of these will cost you just €3.95 per night your package stays in the Parcel Motel. Sure enough, this means you’re not really getting free delivery, but it’s much cheaper than many delivery options to Ireland Amazon sellers offer themselves.

Because of how the system works, Amazon’s next day delivery will always be two days and during peak shipping times like Christmas, it can take longer.

I use Parcel Motel for 80% of my orders, but the option isn’t always available. Some sellers will not ship certain items beyond the Mainland United Kingdom. Often, this comes down to restrictions on Lithium-Ion batteries in gadgets. Straight away, that rules out Northern Ireland and Parcel Motel.

But there’s another option.

AddressPal by An Post

AddressPal is extremely similar to Parcel Motel and it also costs €3.95 per package. The key difference is that instead of lockers, AddressPal will reroute your package from the UK to your local Post Office. For me, the even bigger difference is that AddressPal routes your packages through an address in Manchester.

This is significant if you have added your virtual UK address from Parcel Motel to Amazon.co.uk and it still says delivery is not an option. Pop in your AddressPal virtual UK address and you should once again be able to avail of free UK delivery to Ireland for just €3.95.

It’s worth noting, of course, you won’t have 24/7 pickup options with AddressPal. Instead, you’ll have to visit the post office during opening hours and pay when you’re in there.

Parcel Wizard by DPD

Parcel Wizard, is like the two other services. The big difference is that you can get items delivered through a virtual UK address but then routed to your real address for no extra cost. The service costs €3.85. Because of Covid-19, I’m working from home. I’ve found this service is great because I can get items delivered to my front door. 

Get The Best Price On Amazon.co.uk When Shopping In Ireland

Pardon the pun, but now you’re in a prime position to start shopping on Amazon.co.uk while living in Ireland. There are still some tricks left in my arsenal that will save you some more of your hard-earned money.

Shop In Local Currency With Revolut

A little later, I’ll be looking at Brexit and the impact this might have on Irish shoppers seeking a bargain over on Amazon.co.uk. Right now, Brexit is having the impact of “good lord why aren’t you already shopping on Amazon UK?”.

The arse has effectively fallen out of the Pound which means now is the time to shop on Amazon.co.uk. pound weak against the euro

When you shop on Amazon UK, by default you’ll be paying with Amazon’s own conversion rates.

Let’s look at an example. The brand new Samsung Tab S6 WiFi 128GB.

To buy this version of the Samsung Tab S6 from Samsung Ireland online, would set me back €719. After doing some digging, I can see Amazon.co.uk is the cheapest place to buy.

When I click through and go to Amazon, I can see it’s still showing prices in Pound Sterling and it’s £619. If I continue to check out using my regular Irish card, I’ll pay using Amazon’s own currency converter. The result is me paying €711.83 for the Samsung Tab S6.

If I swap over to Revolut, I can use live exchange rates and pay the Sterling amount from my Euro balance. Suddenly, I’m paying £619 with Euro at a live exchange rate of £1 = €1.10 and the Samsung Tab S6 now costs me just €681.12. That’s a saving of almost €30 by just using a smarter payment method in Revolut.

Using Revolut, not only are you saving money, but you’re also protecting your card details for your primary bank. Sign up to Revolut now and I can almost guarantee you won’t regret it. Last year, I used it constantly in New York where I didn’t once worry about foreign exchange or carrying cash because I always had access to the best rates for Dollars on my card thanks to Revolut. It’ll be the same for me in South Korea later this year.

Brexit And The Future Of Shopping On Amazon UK From Ireland

That’s it for the ultimate guide to shopping on Amazon UK from Ireland, or at least that’s all for what I know right now. Brexit has brought some great short-term opportunities to bag a bargain with the UK e-commerce giant. Longterm, Brexit brings massive problems, especially if there’s a no-deal Brexit.

Increased Prices And Delivery Times Because Of Brexit

European Affairs Minister Helen McEntee recently warned that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, online purchases from the UK may be subject to VAT and import duties depending on their value. Delivery times may also increase due to more checks being required.

However, Head of Parcel Services with An Post, Garret Bridgeman, doesn’t believe there’s anything to be concerned about. “We’ve put the operational arrangements in place. We’ve worked very closely with our colleagues in customs who are on-site in all our facilities and also with our colleagues and friends in Royal Mail and large customers, the likes of Amazon”, Bridgeman said.

Reduced Consumer Protections For UK Purchases In Ireland

With a no-deal Brexit also comes a potential reduction in consumer rights should something go wrong with a product purchased online from the UK. Speaking to the Irish Times, Feargal O’Leary, from the consumer watchdog the Consumer and Competition Protection Commission, depicted what shopping online with UK retailers will look like in the very near future.

According to O’Leary, over the past number of decades, consumer rights within the European Union have grown massively and as a result, consumers are heavily protected when they shop both online and offline. Consumer rights in the EU have been built up over the last number of decades and they’re very strong for consumers.

Consumer rights in the EU have been built up over the last number of decades and they’re very strong for consumers

However, he also went on to say, “if the UK is not part of the EU in the next six-seven-eight weeks, that means that consumers will be relying on terms and conditions as opposed to statutory instruments. So if people are buying from the UK, just take that extra bit of time to check the website – what is the location, and what terms and conditions are you signing up to before you buy? And in that case, you’ll protect yourself no matter where you’re buying from”.

Should You Shop On Amazon.co.uk From Ireland?

All in all, after all of what I’ve written here, Brexit may very well leave you on the fence. I’d say, for smaller purchases make hay while the sun shines. There are some real bargains to bag if you shop right now. Then again, if I take the example of the Samsung tablet I used earlier, even if you purchase that from Amazon, Samsung themselves do have a certain duty of care to enforce their usual 24-month warranty.

There is a new ethical challenge too. Should we all be shopping on Amazon during COVID-19 instead of supporting local businesses. I personally still do shop on Amazon but also shop locally when possible and when it makes sense. 2020 saw a massive jump in interest for Amazon Prime Day in Ireland partially due to Amazon running TV ads with Irish voiceovers, again showing the companies increased focus on the Irish market.

You shouldn’t feel like you’re doing wrong by buying things on Amazon but if you do have the chance to spend locally, your local businesses would appreciate it I’m sure!

With Brexit comes uncertainty and as a result, I guess, shopping online needs to be a calculated risk. Here’s hoping the UK sorts out a deal and we can all get back to shopping online sooner rather than later.

FAQs: Shopping On Amazon UK From Ireland

Can people in Ireland shop on Amazon.co.uk? 

The short answer is yes. It might not always be straight forward and some returns processes might be tricky, but there’s nearly always a way.

Will Amazon deliver to Ireland?

Generally speaking, yes. Items bought on Amazon.co.uk will be delivered to Ireland. Some sellers on Amazon will only ship to UK addresses. Others will online ship to mainland UK addresses. For these sellers, you may need to use Virtual UK addresses or An Post’s Virtual UK address. An Post uses a mainland UK address. This might be handy if you need something with a battery in it.

Can people in Ireland join Amazon Prime?

Yes. If you’re living in Ireland you can still join Amazon Prime.

Are there benefits to being a Prime member if you live in Ireland?

Yes. If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can avail of many of the benefits that UK Prime members get. This includes faster delivery along with access to Prime Video and some two million songs on Prime Music.

Is there Amazon Ireland customer service?

Irish customers can contact UK customer service teams. They can often even resolve Ireland-specific issues such as issues with orders and returns going through virtual address services.

Can Irish customers get next day delivery?

Given the logistics involved, it’s unlikely you’ll get next day delivery, but you do get faster delivery when you’re a Prime member. When completing your purchase, you’ll see a fairly good estimate of when your package will arrive.

Who delivers for Amazon Ireland?

This is often determined by the seller. Previously Amazon primarily used An Post and DPD but they’ve since opened their Irish distribution centre and now have Zeus delivering “as Amazon”.

Will Ireland lose access to Amazon.co.uk after Brexit?

Since Brexit has happened, nothing seems to have changed for people in Ireland shopping on Amazon.co.uk.

Is there an Irish Amazon Shopping App?

There is no specific app for shopping with Amazon UK in Ireland. You can use the regular Amazon Shopping app, available from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Huawei AppGallery.

What’s the best Irish comedy on Amazon Prime?

When you get Prime you also have access to Prime Video. This includes the entire back catalogue of RTÉ’s Bridget and Eamon, Dylan Moran in Black Books, classic Waking Ned and The War of the Buttons. That last one might not be a comedy but it is brilliant.

Can I buy garden furniture on Amazon UK?

Some items can be shipped to Ireland. Mostly, these are flat-packs that you’ll need to assemble yourself.

Can I buy a hair clippers on Amazon UK and get it delivered to Ireland?

You can indeed and in isolation, this has become a massive seller on Amazon.co.uk. Amazon stocks a huge range of hair clippers for you to choose from. Just make sure they deliver to Ireland or you’ll need to use a virtual shipping address.

Can I pay in Euro on Amazon.co.uk?

Yes, but we don’t recommend it. Amazon has a currency converter which offers pretty poor rates. If you have a Revolut card, you can pay in Sterling using Revolut’s Interbank Exchange Rate. This usually saves you a tidy sum.

F1 2020 Game Review: Strap In For One Hell Of A Ride

Marty
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F1 2020 Game Review: Strap In For One Hell Of A Ride

I’ve always been a fan of Formula One games. From the original racers to EA’s F1 Manager game, there’s a scratch that comes with being an F1 fan that these games scratch. The F1 2020 game is out and the latest instalment from Codemasters is by far the most comprehensive F1 game to date. If you want to see Ferarri make a good start to the 2020 season, this game might be the only way you’ll do it.

F1 2020: What’s New?

A good question to ask when it comes to reviewing an F1 game is “how much better can you make driving in circles every year?”. I think, in the past at least, it’s a very valid question. Sure enough, you’ll get updated liveries for the cars and driver rosters, but what else can a game like this actually do?

Remembering It’s A Game

Back in 2010, Codemasters picked up the rights to create F1 games and ever since they’ve been on a mission to create F1 simulators. That comes as a bit of a double-edged sword. One the one hand, F1-simming has led to esports being serious business in the motorsport world.

F1 2020 is all about being fun rather than being a sim

Realism is what makes all of that happen, but for me it led to me buying a game I played for a few minutes and them didn’t go back to. F1 2020 is very much aimed at making the sport fun to play on a console again. Now, the settings to do this were always there but F1 2020 is just more geared towards fun instead of being a simulator and that’s what makes this more appealing to casual gamers.

This matches the brief of F1 as an organisation too who have been trying to be more inclusive for fans with things like Fan Zones at tracks for race weekends.

For me, this game was summed up in Bahrain. I’m fuming I left the game without saving the video but I zig zagged my car, threading the needle and narrowly avoiding a crash. All the while, I wasn’t worried about too many penalties or breaking points. I was just here to have fun. I did still clip the wing and ended up nearly crying later. More on that in a bit.

The Many Modes Of F1 2020

I bought the Michael Schumacher Special Edition version of F1 2020. Why? Well, first of all, I adore Michael Schumacher. While I fell out of love with F1 for a few years, I was a die hard fan a few years back. You know, back when Eddie Jordan, Eddie Irvine and Michael Schumacher were giants in the world. The other reason I bought it was because it game me a few days to get a review done before the regular edition launched. So much for that plan. The game is so jam-packed with features I just couldn’t get it all reviewed in time. Anyway, here’s what you get.

Build Your Own Team

I don’t think I’ll have my mind changed that the ease of play is the biggest change to come to F1 2020. That’s mainly because the main mode people play in a game is very personal. If you want to simulate real-life, adding the 11th team to the grid isn’t going to look very appealing. I’m a big child, so say hello to Goosed Racing.

build your own team in F1 2020

You get to build your own F1 racing team from the ground up. At the start, your team is in startup mode. Instead of big expensive wind tunnels, you have a lad with smoke coming out of a pipe in front of a fan. As you develop and earn more money you not only invest in your car and your drivers but you also invest in the factory. F1 fans know that a good factory is the big driving force behind a successful team.

Now, when it comes to building a team, most owners do it from the outside in. You get to live the Jack Brabham life of owning the team and the car you drive in. You’ll need to pick your teammate. For me, being all sentimental, I went for Michael Schumacher’s son, Mick. After that, you’ll need to pick sponsors and plot how your engineers will develop parts on the car to outpace the competition.

The hack of the Goosed Racing MK1

Theres a certain sense of ownership that comes with this mode that gets you super invested. For example, on race weekends, you have the choice of simulating any of the sessions. A typical weekend has Free Practice 1, Free Practice 2, Free Practice 3 and Qualification before the race on Sunday. I didn’t want to simulate any of them, purely because by completely sessions and achieving goals, I was unlocking more resource points to fast track part development of the car.

I was left nearly in tears at the end of one 14 lap race because my tyres wore out and earlier I had clipped my wing. Together, I was left with no downforce, no grip and a car trundling along while slipping through the field. But I learned from that and understood that a new team is aiming for the places further down the table and to manage the car better.

What I hope you take away from that is just how much fun owning every aspect of the team can really be. It’s also a bit of craic working on your car’s look. Even more so to make it look good as I learned from public reaction the Goosed Racing Mk 1.

Career Mode

The regular career mode hasn’t been replaced and will still appeal to those looking for an experience closer to the real thing. The beauty of career mode is that you can choose where you kick off your life as a racing driver. Build yourself up with a full F2 season, dip your toe is or, take the Lance Stroll approach and inexplicably get a seat in an F1 team from the get-go.

F1 2020 career modes. Battle it out in F2 or Lance Stroll into an F1 seat.

It’s important to note one massive feature that’s not new to F1 2020 but might get you interested. A season and even a race weekend is an investment of your time. One of my favourite features is that you can save mid-weekend, mid-session and even mid-race. So if someone calls you for dinner you can call a halt to the whole game and come back tomorrow.

You hear that? You can pause the horror and walk away. Or run….Seb…

Online

Online also feels like more fun. Because I was testing during the early launch days, getting a game was taking quite some time. Codemasters has also had to upgrade their online service already because demand is greater than usual. I can understand that. Being locked up at home with F1 being delayed has left the F1-itch more in need of scratching than ever.

I’m actually going to reserve judgement for the time being when it comes to online mode. I want to play it over the next month or so and see what it’s like with a bigger population of gamers on better servers.

F1 2020: The Verdict

Earlier I said F1 2020 is all about being fun rather than being a sim. I’m not sure there’s a better summary I can give the game. The graphics are stunning. I’ve gone the extra mile with the Thrustmaster F1 Wheel and EKSA E900 gaming headset and can confirm this to be the icing on the cake in terms of immersion, but it’s not a requirement. Simply put, this game isn’t about Lando Norris dominating laps on Twitch without assists turned on. This game is about you being able to turn on your console and having a bit of craic.

Unless you’re Sebastian Vettel, in which case we recommend Ozarks on Netflix. It’s a good show.

If like me, you’ve taken some time out from F1 games, it’s time to play it Sam.

F1 2020 Trial Now Available

Before you buy, you can now test drive F1 2020 for yourself. Starting today, players on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 can download a free trial of F1 2020. Get a taster for the game yourself whether you’re a race weekend fan or hardcore sim racer.

Updated 23/11/2020: Article updated to include information on the F1 2020 free trial.

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